Serving Arlington, VA by mail
Federal Apostille Services in Arlington, VA
How Arlington residents get federal documents apostilled — and where Virginia state documents go instead.
Last reviewed October 25, 2026
Quick answer
There’s no apostille counter for federal documents in Arlington — only one office in the country issues them, the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. We handle that for Arlington clients by mail. Virginia state documents go to the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia in Richmond.
Key takeaways
- Federal documents from Arlington are apostilled only by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. — there is no local federal apostille office.
- Through us: $299 all-in for Hague countries (10–12 business days) or $399 with embassy legalization for non-Hague countries (15–17 business days).
- Do it yourself: Form DS-4194 and a $20 fee per document — processed within 5 weeks by mail, or 7 business days if you drop it off in Washington, D.C.
- County
- Arlington County
- Federal court
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
- State apostille office
- Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia
- Our nearest office
- Washington, D.C. (headquarters), Richmond
How it works from Arlington
We don’t have an office in Arlington — and you don’t need one. Arlington clients send documents by mail, and our nearest offices are Washington, D.C. (headquarters) and Richmond, processing offices that handle orders by phone and online.
Order online
Tell us the document and destination. No payment until we confirm route and price.
Mail us the document
Ship it by USPS, FedEx, UPS or DHL. We review it against authentication requirements before submission.
We process in Washington, D.C.
We hand-deliver it to the U.S. Department of State, Office of Authentications, and handle embassy legalization for non-Hague countries.
You receive it
Returned by tracked courier.
Arlington and Virginia documents
Arlington is in Arlington County, within the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. Federal court records from there are authenticated federally; Virginia birth, marriage and state-court records, and anything notarized in Virginia, go to the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia. See our Virginia guide for the full breakdown.
Official sources: Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia — Apostilles & Authentications · U.S. Department of State — Authenticate Your Document · HCCH — Apostille Convention status table (Hague countries) · U.S. Courts — Federal Court Websites.
Documents for Arlington residents
Pick your document for the exact route from Arlington:
Where are Virginia state documents apostilled?
Virginia-issued documents — birth, marriage and death certificates, state court records, and anything notarized in Virginia — are apostilled by the Secretary of the Commonwealth, Authentication Division, not by the U.S. Department of State. We don’t provide state-level apostilles, so request it directly from the office below. If it is going to a non-Hague country, get the Virginia authentication first; we then handle the U.S. Department of State and embassy steps for $399.
| Office | Secretary of the Commonwealth, Authentication Division |
|---|---|
| In person | 400 East Cary Street, Richmond, VA 23219 Appointment required (Mon–Thu) |
| Mailing address | 1111 East Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23219 |
| Phone | 804-692-0114 |
| Hours | Appointments Mon–Thu |
| State fee per apostille | $10 |
| Processing time (published) | Mail: 7–10 business days; drop box: 5–7 business days |
Source: Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia — official apostille page (checked October 2026). Fees, hours and appointment rules change — confirm with the office before you send anything.
How long does a federal apostille take from Arlington?
The U.S. Department of State is the only office that issues a federal apostille. Mailed in yourself, it is processed within 5 weeks of receipt; dropped off in person in Washington, D.C., within 7 business days. Through us it takes 10–12 business days, or 15–17 business days for a non-Hague country that also needs embassy legalization.
| Route | How | Processing time | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mail it yourself | Form DS-4194 + check to the Office of Authentications, Sterling, VA | Within 5 weeks of receipt | $20 per document + shipping |
| Drop it off yourself | 600 19th Street NW, Washington, D.C. — Mon–Thu, 7:30–9:00 AM, no appointment | Within 7 business days | $20 per document + travel |
| Emergency appointment | Only for a life-or-death family emergency with travel within 2 weeks | Same day | $20 per document |
| Through Federal Apostille USA | We review it, drop it off in D.C. and return it to you with tracking | 10–12 business days total | $299 all-in ($399 non-Hague) |
What does a federal apostille cost in Arlington?
The government fee is $20 per document, paid with Form DS-4194. Our all-in price is $299 per document, covering the government fee, review, D.C. drop-off and U.S. return shipping; non-Hague destinations are $399 with embassy legalization.
Government figures: U.S. Department of State — Request Authentication Services (checked October 2026).
Arlington — FAQ
Is there a federal apostille office in Arlington?
No. Federal documents are authenticated only by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. We handle that submission for Arlington clients by mail.
Do you have an office in Arlington?
No — Arlington is served by mail. Our nearest offices are Washington, D.C. (headquarters) and Richmond, processing offices that handle orders by phone and online.
Where are Virginia state documents apostilled?
By the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia in Richmond.
Which federal court covers Arlington?
Arlington is in Arlington County, within the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.
How much does a federal apostille cost?
$299 per document for Hague countries (10–12 business days) and $399 for non-Hague countries including embassy legalization (15–17 business days), government fees included.
Ready to start?
Order online in minutes, or call and we will walk you through it. Federal documents from anywhere in the U.S. — one flat price, all government fees included.